A Federal launch on the Attakapas Coast — capture of the Confederate Schr. Purdy.
The Planters' (La.)
Banner gives the following particulars of the capture of the Confederate schooner
Purdy, by a launch belonging to the blockading frigate
Santee:
‘
Last Friday morning, the 29th inst., the Confederate schooner
Purdy,
Capt. Collins, while lying at the mouth of
Belle Isle bayou, was suddenly boarded by eight Lincolnites from a launch belonging as they stated to the U. S. frigate
Santee.
They were armed with six Minnie rifles, eight cutlasses and a brace of pistols each.
They also had a 3-pounder aboard ready for action.
The
Purdy had on board three men,
Capt. Collins,
John Denniston and
M. B. Gordy, and a small boy. They had three double-barrel shot guns, a revolver and a 2-pounder which was below.
The captain of the launch demanded the surrender of the
Purdy, and when
Capt. Collins cocked his gun, and stated that he doubted whether he would accede to the demand, all the
Lincoln guns were promptly leveled upon him and his companions preparatory to enforcing the request.
Capt. Collins saw the folly of resisting under the circumstances, and reluctantly permitted the piratical crew to take charge of his vessel.
They permitted
Capt. C. to take most of the articles he wished from his vessel, and to go ashore with his three companions.
As soon as these arrangements were completed, the Lincolnites left with their prize, moving to the southeast.
About three hours after this
Capt. Samuel Parker came within hailing distance from
Belle Isle with the sloop
Florida, belonging
J. M. Wafford, and had with him two other men.
Capt. Collins and his men immediately joined them and they started to recapture the
Purdy.
They were badly armed, and had but six men against eight Lincolnites.
But what they lacked in weapons and men they made up in pluck and strategy.
They had a pump aboard which they masked, all but the end, which was a fine imitation of the muzzle of a 6-pounder, and with a hole or two in the sail, which indicated that they had been shot at, they doubtless passed for a privateer, and looked rather savage to the thieving crew, upon whom they were now rapidly gaining.
The
Purdy was at length run on a reef, and the Lincolnites in hot haste abandoned her and took to their launch, plying their cars lustily to avoid being captured by their resolute pursuers.
They left the
Purdy in such fearful haste that they left behind them twelve cartridge boxes, two pistols, seven cutlass sheaths, a dozen belts and a letter which had just been written by one of the crew, giving a thrilling account of a fearful fight in which they had just engaged, killing, wounding and taking prisoners about twenty rebels, besides capturing their vessel.
The launch and its crew would have been finally captured but for a misunderstanding in the signals exchanged between the
Florida and a launch of the Confederate steamer
Mobile, with which they attempted to communicate, after the recapture of the
Purdy.
It appears that a launch of about the size of the above, which was 25 feet long, with eight oars and eight men, had landed on an island west of
Belle Isle a few days previous to this, and there were various speculations in regard to what vessel they belonged to.--They landed on a stealing expedition.
It appears also that they had been ashore at
Belle Isle the day previous to the capture of the
Purdy.
’
